Newborn birth defect?

[Woogie Man]

Originally Posted by linanator

I had put a pic of the entire litter on Facebook w/a note about the little guy. One of my breeder friends called me and gave me a recipe. She is raising a Yorkie baby born w/cleft pallet. She kept him thriving on this recipe (she's also a nurse) until she could have surgery on him which was a success. Here's the recipe: 10 oz undiluted goat's milk
1 Cup whole milk yogurt (Dannon makes
one--Walmart)
1 egg yolk
1 tsp. Karo
Mix all together and feed every 3 1/2 hrs. The yogurt helps their digestive system and she agrees goat's milk is much better, but being undiluted, w/ the whole yogurt should help him thrive, if he's going to.
I was holding him before feed and he didn't seem to be breathing through his mouth. Still won't stay on the teat, but I still think it's due to weakness.
Will keep posting. Maybe someone else can learn along with me. Lin

I have seen similar recipes, but usually for larger breeds. I have never used these recipes on a Yorkie, due mainly to concerns about digestion. Will be interesting to see how it works out for you.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by linanator

How does 1/4 tsp. Karo to 1/4 Cup of 'diluted' Goat's milk sound. (It should say concentrated on the front of the can, but then I guess when you read the directions you see that. lol) Does that sould like too much Karo to anyone? I don't want to raise his sugar too high. Lin

Please read the following article:
http://www.showpapillons.com/formula.htm

There is a recipe in paragraph 10 for a glucose solution you can give the puppy. I have used this a number of times when I have a tiny puppy and they all have responded very well. I pray your little one will be okay.

[linanator]

The yogurt in the Leerburg diet takes care of digestion problems. As I said, my friend raised a cleft yorkie on this diet and now he's healthy as everything (had surgery that was successful). 'Junior' was up to 4.2 this morning! He seems to be nursing some when I put him on the teat if the other fatties don't push him out of the way---which they do.

[linanator]

bjh, I'm not finding the glucose recipe you're talking about. Would it be for 'crashing' puppies?.
Got to run, be back this afternoon. (in between coming home and feeding 'Junior')

[chachi]

Usually when they are too weak to suck you have to tube feed. Best of luck with the wee one.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by linanator

bjh, I'm not finding the glucose recipe you're talking about. Would it be for 'crashing' puppies?.
Got to run, be back this afternoon. (in between coming home and feeding 'Junior')

Here is paragraph 10 from the article:

We decided not to wait for 48 hours or even 24 hours, and since interpreting Dr. Van Sickle’s in our own way to our diminutive breed, we have not lost a single puppy, As soon as the bitch is approaching parturition, we make a 5% glucose solution by mixing one teaspoon white corn syrup with a few grains each of sodium chloride (table salt) and potassium chloride (salt substitute) with four tablespoons boiled water. This resembles a Ringer’s glucose-sale fluid but, of course, cannot be used for subcutaneous or intravenous injection because it is not sterile. We put the solution into a dropper bottle. As soon as a whelp is dry and breathing normally, it is weighed on a gram scale and given five or six drops of the solution on its tongue. Even the weakest puppy is able to accept each drop before the next is given. Then the puppy is put with its dam for stimulation and warmth.

When I have a runt puppy I will give them 5 or 6 drops of this solution every few hours. Do you have Nutri-drops? Many breeders use Nutri-drops for newborn pups and weak pups.

[linanator]

okay, I had that recipe. Thanks for sending it again. Junior hit 4.3 oz this afternoon. I'm really hopeful! This is just such great news. He's going in the right direction plus this afternoon, he was nursing really well. Of course, the fatty girls would push him out of the way within seconds, but there was one time he was on the nipple for several minutes and when I picked him up to tube feed, he just curled up and went to sleep. He really didn't need to be fed, but I did feed him----less than earlier. This has gotten to be a dang science! lol If he doesn't get to a point where he can latch on to Mom without intervention for 12 hours, I'm going to be in trouble by Oct. 1. Will explain later.

[yorkielady06]

Originally Posted by dianethomas

I'm so sad that you had to put your cleft puppy down. Zaccheus had pneumonia twice, but we managed to pull him through. He was such a little fighter.

I tube fed her for a long time and did not want to lose her. She had pneumonia twice, once as a tiny one then the last one. The vet said she was suffering at that point and it was so hard to do. I would have continued to tube feed her but the vet told me that she was struggling with each breath. She went peacefully and it broke my heart. I still find myself thinking about her often. She was real fighter but in the end it was not meant to be

[dianethomas]

Originally Posted by yorkielady06

I tube fed her for a long time and did not want to lose her. She had pneumonia twice, once as a tiny one then the last one. The vet said she was suffering at that point and it was so hard to do. I would have continued to tube feed her but the vet told me that she was struggling with each breath. She went peacefully and it broke my heart. I still find myself thinking about her often. She was real fighter but in the end it was not meant to be

That is so sad. Sometimes we just have to let go. Many, many times I wondered if I was being stubborn and selfish to keep fighting for Zacchie. But as long as he fought, I was willing to fight with him.
Bless you for trying so hard, but knowing when to stop.
Okay, I'll stop crying now.

[linanator]

I can't even think about losing 'Junior'. I understand it's a possibility, but I'm just one of those "glass half full' people and just think positively, as I'm sure you guys did too. Get this:

He went from 4.4 early this am to 4.8 oz this evening!!!! I can't believe it!
I'm just so excited. I'm trying to be realistic, but I'm extremely hopeful at this point. He hit his birth weight of 4.5 and exceeded it all in one day. The very most weight gain in a day yet. I'm guessing it indicates he's a fighter. lin

[yorkielady06]

That is awesome!!! Hope he keeps it up..

[linanator]

Junior dropped back 1/10 of an oz. I can see I've got to stick to the 3 hour schedule, but it's SO hard for me. I also take care of my elderly parents, and a host of other activities that I can't get out of. I have a huge juried Craft Fair next week of which I'm co-chair! I'm taking him with me and put him in the 'office trailer' and feed him every 3 hours. Don't know what else to do. I've already got a lot of lost sleep invested in him.
You won't believe this! We ordered a canine breast pump in difference sizes today! All the other pups are SO very fat, I know this mom has some rich milk, so if we can get some for junior, it would be great. I'll try anything! Going to continue to supplement w/the Leerburg formula.

[linanator]

Hello to all! Baby 'Junior' is up to 6 oz. Took him to one of my vets yesterday for her just to assure me he's in good shape with no detectable problems and she said he's doing fine and keep doing whatever I'm doing.
Thanks to all who have been so supportive. I'm dreading week after next as I'm away from home for 12-14 hours a day for over a week. I've already told them I'm bringing my baby yorkie that has to be tube fed every 3 hours and kept warm, so I hope I can deal with it and he doesn't backslide. (This is a huge Craft Fair of which I am co-chair of the entire event. Can't get out of it.) Lin